NPC president Renato “Boy” Duran yesterday said Mae is a big loss to the NPC, “she has always been a dependable worker”.

“She will always be remembered and that NPC will never be the same without her,” he said.

Gilbert Marañon, Mae’s husband, said that she had served many NPC presidents for more than 35 years and had remained loyal to each one of them.

She was very dedicated to her job and even reported to work during weekends if her services were needed, Gilbert said. He would sometimes accompany her late at night until everyone had left the NPC building along San Juan Street in Bacolod.

Gilbert recalled that Mae was a thoughtful person and that she really loved her work. He was overprotective of her and even offered to do some of her work so she would not be stressed out, he said.

Her health was frail yet she really wanted to work, he said.

She had been hospitalized nine years ago due to a lung ailment and her doctor told them that she may only have three years to live. Yet her life was extended to nine years which he considers a bonus, Gilbert said.

She was wearing a white T-shirt with the NPC logo when she took her last breath Wednesday night at the emergency room of The Doctor’s Hospital, he said.

Gilbert said Mae had difficulty breathing Tuesday so he borrowed an oxygen tank from Patrol 911. He brought her early the next day to the Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital where she was made to undergo several laboratory tests. But since there was no vacant room, he decided to bring her to the Doctor’s Hospital.

They stayed at the emergency room until she took her last breath. The doctors tried to revive her about nine times while he was encouraging her to fight for her life and on the ninth time, she held his hand tightly before she passed away, he said.

Gilbert said he and Mae have been married for almost 22 years but have no children. But Mae had a favorite dog named Petro who would jump to meet her when she came home and would also sleep on her bed.

He said a plan to bring her remains to the NPC building are still being worked out.*